2007 - Planning for Senior Population Growth in Prince George's County

This report presents the findings of a study conducted on current and projected distributions of affordable senior housing, social services, and the senior population in Prince George's County. The studio team consists of the following graduate planning students in the Urban Studies and Planning program at the University of Maryland, College Park:

• Rosalina Balarezo
• Emanuel Briggs
• Sun Young Choi
• Eric Duneman
• Anthony Gamallo
• Shannon Grevious
• Ruizhu Huang
• Megan Moriarty
• Claire Schnitzer
• Tiffany C. Williams

In an effort to address the needs of its aging population, Prince George’s County has traditionally provided funding to increase and improve housing programs and social services that benefit low-income seniors. Primary sources of this funding have been Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds. In recent years, however, there has been increasing concern regarding the allocation of resources in support of the aging population. A major challenge to addressing this issue has been identifying the spatial distribution of the County’s elder population so that funding may be used to target communities that most need affordable senior housing and adequate community based social services.

his report presents a methodology for identifying the spatial relationship between the senior population and affordable multifamily senior housing in Prince George’s County for the purpose of identifying mismatches between the supply and demand for affordable multifamily senior housing. This report also goes beyond the traditional bricks and mortar approach to senior housing, and explicitly recognizes that social support services are a critical element of the senior housing environment. In addition, the study examines the role of CDBG and HOME funds in providing affordable housing for the elderly.

Finally, the report contains a set of recommendations to address future housing needs and spatial mismatches and also considers the vital roles played by non-profit, public and faith-based agencies and organizations in providing programs and services that enhance the quality of life for seniors.

Images/Documents

708 F07 Seniors FinalReport.pdf